Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2006 13:35:34 GMT -5
Any Lincoln folks hear any rumors about the building of a smaller arena out by Haymarket Park for a semi-pro bball team that the Huskers would relocate to? People were talking about it last year during baseball season at Hawks field. I never read it anywhere.
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Post by SaltNPepper on Oct 26, 2006 14:46:57 GMT -5
Coach Cook has stated that the configuration of the court is not going to change and the engineering study has shown that the floor (or rather the basement underneath) cannot support adding more bleachers so that won't change either. Also, Nebraska fans (at least those with tickets who have been the big supporters of the program for many years) do not want to move to a larger facility. We've played in Devaney and even the Qwest and it is not the same at all. Bigger is definitely not better in this case. Volleyball NEEDS to be played in an intimate atmosphere to be able to be fully appreciated. I recall the thread from a year or so ago where this was discussed and I too have a recollection of a statement from Cook or the Athletic department prior to that which indicated there were building structural limits that would be a problem if they wanted to increase the seating capacity of the Coliseum. However, I'd like to relay and observation that I had about a month (maybe a month and a half ago) prior to one of the Husker matches. I had arrived at the match fairly early. It was probably a little over an hour before the match was to start. I observed Coach Cook was with what appeared to be two parents and a recruit that were standing in the aisle in the south stands near the exit that leads to the volleyball offices. I did not recognized the recruit - which for me is the norm as I really don't follow the high school scene that much. I was outside of voice range, so I did not hear any of their conversation that lasted maybe 5 to 10 minutes. During one point of that conversation, Cook appear to make several gestures that looked to me like he was motioning with a sweep of his hand toward the court and like moving to the north & then motions with both hands that I interpreted as meaning turning the court. It is possible he was discussing something else (I don't think so) or that he was explaining how it wouldn't work to turn the court 90 degrees - I don't know. I just know that the impression I got from that was that he was trying to explain something about the topic we're discussing here. Time will tell if there is anything to it, but until then, I personally do not believe that it has been totally (or permanently) ruled out. I'm not a structural engineer, but my basic belief is if there is enough money and desire to do something, structural deficiencies can be overcome. One other comment on playing at Devenay. I think most current season ticket holders would prefer to stay in the Coliseum for its atmosphere if it meant crowds of 5,000 to 7,000 in a half filled Devenay. However, If they ever could get to to point where they'd sell 10,000 to 13,000 for most home matches, then I'm not so sure that it would not be a better environment for an evening of volleyball. I don't think the program is at that point yet, but it may not be too far away. A more important point is probably that with all the practice or game time already needed for both men's and women's basketball from mid October through the end of the volleyball season, scheduling time for women's volleyball practice and games would really be a serious issue during the the last half of the volleyball season and probably not something that any of the three coaching staffs would be interested in working out.
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chada
Sophomore
Posts: 171
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Post by chada on Oct 26, 2006 22:46:21 GMT -5
While I don't agree that the Coliseum is quiet (at least it wasn't when I was there), I agree they could really use more student representation in the crowd. Changing the setup - maybe rotating the court 90 degrees and moving those bleachers back would allow for more fans. I think it's a cool atmosphere, but if they can sell out bigger venues, than why not take the chance. Also, I'm sure Nebraska isn't concerned about this, but the shoebox they put the visiting crowd in is a little ridiculous. From what I have been told it is the pursuit of the almighty dollar that gives you the crowd composition that you have. I understand that the students don't or can't afford to attend due to the outrageous prices that you charge....this is a good thing in some respects but has its obvious downside.....many schools don't do it that way, but when in Nebraska do as the huskers do I guess The Colisseum used to have a large General Admission/Student ticket area. It covered both north and south bleachers and a lot of the upper reaches of the building. Year by year as Nebraska continued success they cut the Gen admission and the student ticket areas. 1994 students got in for free and got to sit in general admission. 1995 was 1 dollar per ticket... 1996 through 1998 I believe were 2 dollars per ticket. During this whole time the General Admission was shrinking, the reserved seats were increasing. 1998 the students and general admission only had the bleachers behind the bench. It was the great 1999 that was when I as a student had to purchase regular season tickets in order to get a relatively "good" seat (the seats still sucked 7 or 8 dollars per game). However, from that point forward General Admission was just in the corners up in the balcony... no longer was there General Admission on the bleachers. That was a sad day to me.... because we lost our student section when we did that. All those great crowds in front of the Colisseum that the university likes to show in it's print media? These all happened in 1994-1996 when we would line up in the snow and freezing cold just to snatch up those bleacher seats. In 1994 we stood in line for 4 hours waiting to get into the Regional Final... want a rowdy crowd? Make them stand outside for 4 hours for a good seat.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Oct 26, 2006 23:41:10 GMT -5
Finally! Someone with good sense (i.e. a non-red avatar) posts in this thread!
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Post by huskervbfan on Oct 26, 2006 23:58:57 GMT -5
Cook appear to make several gestures that looked to me like he was motioning with a sweep of his hand toward the court and like moving to the north & then motions with both hands that I interpreted as meaning turning the court. I'm not a structural engineer, but my basic belief is if there is enough money and desire to do something, structural deficiencies can be overcome. He could have just as easily been answering the question of where the practice courts are. In that case they move back the bleachers and turn the courts just like you are describing and they get three courts out of it. Cook was specifically asked at the Match Club picnic earlier this fall about if they would ever be turning the courts and he said the short answer was "NO!" Yes you are right. Money could overcome the structural limitation but there are several more issues and one of the main ones is that Cook LIKES the intimacy of the Coliseum the way it is. He understands that volleyball needs to be played in an atmosphere similar to the Coliseum. Also, they couldn't generate enough income from the extra seats to pay for the cost of renovation which would be very considerable. You are right about the scheduling problems with Devaney but the bigger issue is that many current fans would not want to go if you are sitting so far away. I'll continue to attend places like Devaney or the Qwest if they are only a couple times a year but if they became a regular occurance, I'm outta there. I've been a LONG time supporter but if they moved to a large facility like that, I would stop going and just watch on TV if that were an option or quit all together if it were not.
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Post by SaltNPepper on Oct 27, 2006 7:25:05 GMT -5
I've been a LONG time supporter but if they moved to a large facility like that, I would stop going and just watch on TV if that were an option or quit all together if it were not. A true fan speaks!
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